Diabetes - A Growing Problem

·   The number of people with diabetes has doubled in the past 25 years.

·   40% of the people with diabetes are over 65 years of age.

· In 2004, in Alaska, there were 21,000 people diagnosed with Diabetes, a 27% increase from the total number of people with diabetes in Alaska in 2000.

· Following national trends, approximately 6,200 people in Alaska will have diabetes and not know it, and approximately 42,000 people will have pre-diabetes.

· It is estimated that among all persons born in 2000, approximately 1/3 will be diagnosed with diabetes by age 60.

· Given the aging of the Alaska population and the increasing prevalence of diabetes risk factors, it is likely that the prevalence of diabetes in Alaska will increase over the next decade

 (source: http://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/statistics/prev/national/figpersons.htm)

State of Alaska Epidemiology Bulletin: Recommendations and Reports, DHSS, DPS, Vol 9 (3), September 30, 2005. http://www.epi.hss.state.ak.us/bulletins/docs/rr2005_03.pdf